Process for preparing frosted and multicolored cotton pile fabrics

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a process for producing frosted and multicolored cotton pile fabrics by means of finishing techniques. For this purpose, procedures to permit selective blocking and dyeing of specified regions of the fabric have been developed.

United States Patent [1 Harper, Jr. et al.

[ Nov. 12, 1974 [73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1973 [21] App]. N0.: 365,897

[52] US. Cl. 8/66, 8/1 E, 8/17,

8/18, 8/15 [51] Int. Cl D06p 5/12 [58] Field of Search 8/18, 65, 66, 17, I5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1949 Mellor 8/15 3,099,514 7/l963 Haber 8/17 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 490,532 8/1938 Great Britain 8/65 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Amer. Dyestuff Report, Vol. 55, No. 19, pp. page 8788 Primary ExaminerDonald Levy Attorney, Agent, or Firm-M. Howard Silverstein; Max D. Hensley [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a process for producing frosted and multicolored cotton pile fabrics by means of finishing techniques. For this purpose, procedures to permit selective blocking and dyeing of specified regions of the fabrichave been developed.

6 Claims, N0 Drawings PROCESS FOR PREPARING FROSTED AND MULTICOLORED COTTON PILE FABRICS A non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license in the invention herein described, throughout the world for all purposes of the United States Government, with the power to grant sublicenses for such purposes, is hereby granted to the Government of the United States of America.

This invention relates to'the dyeing of cotton and other cellulosic containing fabrics in such a manner as to produce frosted fabrics. The frosted appearance is achieved by a method in which the tops of the loops are undyed whereas the ground or bottom of the loops are dyed.

For the production of this frosted effect together with that of a fabric with a soft, absorbent pile, a three-step process is utilized. In the first step of this process, the fabric is coated with a crosslinking agent and a thickener. The crosslinking agent should be of the type that can be easily hydrolyzed from the fabric. After the protective crosslinking has been performed on the pile, either on one or both sides of the fabric, the fabric is dyed with a cotton dye (preferably a reactive dye). In the third step the crosslinking agent and thickener are hydrolyzed from the fabric to produce a soft pile fabric with the proper frosted effect.

If the production of a multicolored pile fabric is desired, the cotton fabric can now be redyed using a lower concentration of dye and a color of lower depth than in the initial dyeing (step 2). That is, one should use the darker colors in step 2 and pastel colors in step 4. If this procedure is followed multicolored effects can be produced, but it should be understood that the step 4 dyeing modifies the color produced in step 2.

At this point, the individual steps in the process will be reviewed in greater detail. In step 1, examples of crosslinking agents that are easily removed (hydrolyzed) from the fabric are dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea. The thickener should be one that is compatible with a crosslinking system and which can be removed from the fabric at the same time that the crosslinker is hydrolyzed. In this first step then, the fabric is coated with a formulation containing crosslinking agent, acid catalyst and thickener. If the pile fabric, for example, a terry towel, is to be frosted on a single side, it is treated with the coating formulation. If it is to be frosted on both the front and back, it is coated on both sides. The depth to which the pile is to be frosted can be controlled by the amount of thickener in the coating formulation. As the amount of thickener in the coating formulation is reduced a greater proportion of the cellulose in the loop is rendered resistant to the dye. After the coating operation has been completed, the fabric is then cured.

The cured fabric is next dyed with a reactice cotton dye using a standard dye procedure. At this point, a real difference occurs in whether or not one uses a highly efficient polyfunctional crosslinking agent such as dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) or a difunctiona] agent such as dimethylol ethyleneurea (DMEU) or dimethylol propyleneurea (DMPU) in the coating formulation. In the case of 4 the fonner (DMDHEU) when the fabric had been coated on one side and dyed with Reactive Red 1, the fabric now had a frosted color with a red background on one side and was red on the second side. On the other hand, with the fabric that was coated with the dimethylol ethyleneureaor dimethylol propyleneurea on one side, the fabric was dyed red on both sides being only slightly less red on the coated side than on the uncoated side. While the product which used the dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea has the desired frosted appearance, it has an extremely harsh surface which is undesirable in a pile fabric.

Then, these dyed fabrics were placed in an aqueous bath containing 0.1 N hydrochloric acid. The fabric treated with dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) took on a more frosted appearance due to the hydrolysis but otherwise did not lose its surface harshness. This is because the dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea crosslinked on the fabric is difficult to hydrolyze using this concentration of acid. As such, while the treatment using the dimethylol dihydroxye thyleneurea (DMDHEU) yields a product with the desired color effects, the resistance of the fabric to hydrolysis makes it almost impossible to remove the crosslinking agent and thickener without removing the dye. On the other hand, when the fabrics treated with the dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea are hydrolyzed, two important changes in the fabric occur. First, the side of the fabric treated with crosslinking agent and thickener regains its softness because of the removal of the aforementioned chemical agents. Second, the side of the fabric treated with the crosslinking agent acquires a frosted appearance. This occurs because the red color on the fabric was associated with thggyeing of the hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and its hydrolysis likewise removed the color associated with the HEC. The result then is a toweling fabric in which the top of the loops are undyed on one side of the fabric while the remainder of the fabric is dyed. At the same time, the fabric is soft on both sides.

If it is desired to produce a multicolored fabric, the fabric can now be dyed a second color. The entire fabric is dyed by this color; so in order to reduce the modification of the initial color (ground or back), careful color selection and the use of a reduced level of dyestuff are necessary. By the proper color selection, fabrics can be produced which are one color in the ground and another in the pile, or one color in the pile on one side of the fabric while the pile on the other side and the ground on both sides are of a different color. Again the dye procedure is the same as utilized in the second step of the overall procedure except for adjustments in the color and concentration of dye in the dyebath.

Before consideration is given to some of the individual aspects of this process, it should be noted that this procedure yields products which are different than I those produced by yarn dyeing and then weaving. First,

the color or lack of color only extends part way down the pile and not all the way through the pile. As such, the ground of the fabric can be completely dyed a given color. Apart from the fact that a product is produced, which yarn dyeing cannot quite duplicate, the method gives the manufacturer considerable flexibility because all dye colors are applied to the fabric subsequent to weaving and preparatory finishing. Inventory control then is significantly less of a problem than for a manufacturer who attempts to produce comparable fabrics using dyed yarns.

CROSSLINKING TREATMENTS The purpose of the crosslinking treatment is to make the cellulose resistant to dyeing in those regions of the fabric that are treated. In the case in which dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU; A) is used, the resistance to dyeing is immediately noticeable when the fabric is dyed. However, because this agent is very difficult to hydrolyze, the finished fabric does not possess suitable absorbency and softness characteristics to be deemed a satisfactory product.

In the case of dimethylol ethyleneurea (DMEU; B) and dimethylol propyleneurea (DMPU; C), the coated fabrics do not possess the desired frosted appearance immediately after dyeing. However, it is apparent that the regions of the fabric treated with crosslinking agent have been protected because while the fabrics are dyed, upon hydrolysis the frosted appearance develops. This behavior is unexpected but it would appear that .tl qxsinai assosiatsdw h hshydr xxe hy se lv and when this is stripped off, the color is likewise removed. Another agent tried was dimethylol urea (D) but the frosted appearance did not develop either after dyeing or after hydrolysis. Most other crosslinking agents of the carbamate, glyoxal or formaldehyde type are too difficult to hydrolyze to be effectively used in this system. The amount of crosslinking agent in the coating formulation can be varied considerably depending upon the degree of protection desired and the number of coats being applied to the fabric. In this application, one or two coats were utilized per side of fabric to be treated. The coating formulation consisted of from 5 to 25 percent dimethylol ethyleneurea percent preferred) with the appropriate amount of acid catalyst (preferably zinc nitrate hexahydrate or magnesium chloride hexahydrate) and thickener. The zinc nitrate hexahydrate is used at the rate of 0.5 percent per each 8 percent DMEU in the formulation while the magnesium chloride hexahydrate was used at the rate of 2.5 percent per each 8 percent DMEU in the formulation. Of course, other catalysts normally used with crosslinking agents such as mixed catalysts or hydroxy acids can also be used as readily as the mixed salt catalysts. The thickener used in this operation was hydroxyethyl cellulose. The amount used varied from 0.3 percent to 1.0 percent about 0.5 percent hydroxyethxlsqllul s bflaathsrwferred a n After it h been coated with the crosslinking formulation, the fabric is dried and cured at the time and temperature appropriate for the particular crosslinking agent and catalyst employed.

COATING VARIATIONS Several variations in coating are possible. If the fabric is coated only on a single side and then dyed and hydrolyzed, a fabric is produced which is frosted on one side and dyed a solid shade on the second side. If the coating treatment is applied to both sides, the finished fabric then has a frosted appearance on each side. For a greater proportion of white in the frost, a greater proportion of crosslinking agent can be used in the coating mixture or the fabric can be coated twice on the same side. In this respect, it has been found effective to perform the second coat in the opposite direction to the initial coat so as to achieve better coverage of the pile yarns.

While the description given thus far covers coating on an entire side of the fabric, portions of the fabric can likewise be printed to produce comparable effects in which only the printed areas will have a frosted appearance.

In the production of multicolored fabrics, the frosted areas are converted to colored regions in the second dyeing operation. As such, fabrics can be bicolored on both sides or bicolored on a single side and a solid color on the second side depending upon whether or not the fabrics were coated with a crosslinking formulation on both sides or only on a single side.

DRYING AND CURING OF RESINS The drying and curing of resins are normally done at the time and temperature appropriate for the given crosslinking agent and its catalyst system. In the case of DMEU or DMPU and a metal salt catalyst, the typical drying conditions were seven minutes at 60 C. The curing conditions were three minutes at 160 C. for DMEU and five minutes at 160 C. for DMPU. These conditions may be viewed as giving results similar to conventional finishing. However, another technique has been found to be particularly effective with these systems. The coated fabric is run over heated cans for drying and curing purposes. The fabric is run in such a fashion that the wet or coated side of the fabric faces or touches the heated cans. Experiments with padded fabrics indicated that the resin migrated to the heated surface and as such this technique reinforces the effect of the thick ener in controlling the position of the resin on the fabric. The wet fabric is in contact with the heated rolls at C for a period of 10-l 2 minutes in this operation.

DYE TECHNIQUES While any of several types of cotton dyes can be used in this process, a preferred dye type is the fiber reactive dye. The reason for this preference for fiber reactive dyes is that they react with tial dyeing should be performed with the darker shade and utilize from 0.8 percent to 2.0 percent dye in the dyebath. For the second dyeing of the same fabric, one should utilize the lighter dye shade and use from 0.] percent to 0.8 percent dye in the dyebath.

HYDROLYSIS OF CROSSLINKER The crosslinking agents in this process are characterized by facile hydrolysis under mildly acidic conditions. The particular procedure used in this work was to immerse the samples in a bath containing 0.1 N hydrochloric acid for a period of 5 minutes at 60-65C. However, conditions of time and temperature can be easily varied to achieve comparable effects. Examples of such time and temperature treatments are:

minutes at 50-55 C,

3 minutes at 70-75 C,

1-2 minutes at 80-85 C,

seconds 1 minute at 90-95 C.

Of course, other acids such as phosphoric, chloroacetic, or citric acid can be used instead of hydrochloric, the only requirement being that the solution be sufficiently acidic to hydrolyze the dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea crosslink residue off of the cellulose. In this latter case, a somewhat longer period of acid hydrolysis should be used than the previously mentioned time periods for DMEU.

MISCELLANEOUS CONCEPTS The above describes the basic procedure for the production of frosted or multicolored cotton pile fabrics. Anyone versed in the textile art can apply the method to a variety of cotton pile fabrics such as toweling, corduroy or velveteen. Combinations with other standard treatments can be readily performed by any textile finisher.

EXAMPLE 1 A desized, scoured, bleached and mercerized sample of cotton terry toweling was coated on one side with a formulation containing 15 parts of dimethylol ethyleneurea, 0.9 parts of zinc nitrate hexahydrate, one part hydroxyethyl cellulose, and 83 .l parts water. The fabric was then dried and cured on a heated can with the coated side facing the hot steam can. The fabric was placed on the can which was heated to 150 C for 12 minutes. The fabric was then laundered. A sample of this fabric was then dyed with Reactive Red 1 using a standard dye procedure. Essentially, this consisted, of inserting, at room temperature, the fabric into an aqueous bath containing 1 percent dye (based on the weight of water), and 40 percent sodium sulfate (based on the weight of fabric). For each gram of fabric, 30 grams of the bath solution were employed. The samples were stirred for 15 minutes, removed from the dye bath, 30 percent sodium carbonate (based on weight of fabric) was added and then the fabric sample was reinserted in the dyebath at -55 C and stirred for 15 minutes. The fabric was rinsed in cold water and then heated in a hot bath containing a wetting a e Ib att ale we thst la nde csi- L H The sample was now red on both sides, being somewhat redder on the uncoated side of the fabric. Also the coated fabric surface was relatively harsh and stiff. Then, the sample was hydrolyzed by inserting it in a water bath at 60-65 C containing 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (approximately 0.4 weight percent) for a period of 5 minutes. The sample was rewashed and tumble dried. The sample now had a frosted appearance with a red background on one side and was red on the second side. The frosted appearance occurred because the loops of the fabric were undyed while the background (ground) of the fabric was dyed red. Moreover, the fabric was now soft even on the side that was coated. This reflects the fact that the crosslinking agent and hydroxyethyl cellulose thickener had been removed in the acid hydrolysis.

The same overall procedure was repeated using a blue dye (Reactive Blue 26) in one case and an orange dye (Reactive Orange 4) in the second case. In each instance, subsequent to the hydrolysis step, a frosted fabric was produced. The difference was that in the case of the blue dye the fabric was frosted with a blue background while in the second case the fabric was frosted with an orange background.

EXAMPLE 2 The same procedure was followed as in Example 1 except that after the fabric had been coated and cured, it was then coated with the same formulation on the second side, then cured on the can in the same manner as in Example 1. In this case the fabric after having been dyed and hydrolyzed had a frosted appearance on both sides in which the surface of the fabric had a whitish appearance and the ground of the fabric was red. Analogous results were also observed when the fabric was dyed with the orange or blue reactive dye as in Example 1. That is, the fabric was frosted on both sides but with the fabric having an orange background in the first case and a blue background in the second case.

EXAMPLE 3 The same procedure was performed as in Example 1 except that the coated fabric was cured in a forceddraft oven for a period of five minutes at 160 C instead of on heated dry cans. In each instance, there was produced a fabric that was frosted on one side but not on the second side. The dye shade of the uncoated side of the fabric was the appropriate dye color with the other side having a background of red, orange or blue depending upon the color shade employed in dyeing.

EXAMPLE 4 The same procedure was employed as in Example 2 except that the fabric was coated, then dried for ten minutes at C, then coated on the second side, and dried for ten minutes at 70 C and cured for five minutes in a forceddraft oven at C. None of these heating operations were performed on dry cans. In each instance, a fabric was produced that was frosted on both sides. The background of the frosting was red, orange or blue depending upon the color shade employed in dyeing.

EXAMPLE 5 The same procedure was employed as in Example 3 with the following two exceptions. First, the coating solution contained 15 parts of dimethylol propyleneurea, 1.0 part of zinc nitrate hexahydrate, 1 .0 part hydroxyethyl cellulose and 83.0 parts water. The second change was to increase the hydrolysis period to ten minutes at 6065 C. The result of the overall procedure was to produce a fabric that was frosted on one side and a solid color on the second side as was the case in Examples 1 and 3.

EXAMPLE 6 The same procedure was employed as in Example 4 with the following exceptions. First, the coating solutions consisted of an aqueous treatment consisting of 15 parts dimethylol propyleneurea, 1.0 part zinc nitrate hexahydrate, 1.0 part hydroxyethyl cellulose and 830 parts water. The second change was to increase the hydrolysis time of the fabric to ten minutes at 60-65 C. The result in each case was to produce a fabric, which was frosted on both sides with the ground color either red, orange, or blue depending upon the color shade used indyeing.

EXAMPLE 7 The same procedure was used as in Example 3 except that after the fabric had been coated initially in one direction and dried, the fabric was turned 180 and coated on the same side a second time. By this means, both sides of the loops of the fabric were coated. When the remainder of the procedure was completed, the re sult was a fabric which was dyed on one side with the second side of the fabric being so frosted as to be almost white.

EXAMPLE 8 Samples of the fabric from Examples 1, 3, 5, and 7 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Red 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect in which the pile on th coated side was red whereas the ground of the fabric was purple. The reverse side of the fabric was also purple.

EXAMPLE 9 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 1, 3, 5, and 7 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Yellow 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect in which the pile on the coated side was yellow whereas the ground of the fabric was blackish blue. The reverse side of the fabric was also blackish blue.

EXAMPLE 10 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 1, 3, 5, and 7 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.33 percent Reactive Orange 4 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect in which the pile on the coated side was orange while the ground of the fabrics was an orangeviolet mixture. The reverse side of the fabric was similar.

EXAMPLE 1 1 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 1, 3, 5, and 7 which had been dyed red were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Yellow 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect in which the pile of the fabric on the coated side was yellow with a red background. The other side of the fabric was dyed red.

EXAMPLE 12 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 2, 4, 6, and 8 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Red 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect because the pile on each side was red while the ground of the fabric was purple.

EXAMPLE 13 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 2, 4, 6, and 8 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Yellow 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect because the pile on each side was yellow, whereas the ground of the fabric was a blackish blue.

EXAMPLE 14 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 2, 4, 6, and 8 which had been dyed navy blue were dyed in a bath containing 0.33 percent Reactive Orange 4 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect because the pile on each side was orange while the ground of the fabric was violet.

EXAMPLE 15 Samples of the fabrics from Examples 2, 4, 6, and 8 which had been dyed red were dyed in a bath containing 0.8 percent Reactive Yellow 1 using the dye procedure described in Example 1. The samples were then laundered. The fabrics produced had a multicolored effect because the pile on each side was yellow while the ground of the fabric was red.

We claim:

1. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are frosted on one side which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst, and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose;

b. drying the coated fabric from a. at a temperature of about 60 C to C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes,

c. curing the dry fabric from (b) at a temperature from C to C for a period of about 1 minute to 20 minutes,

d. dyeing the fabric from (c) with a reactive cotton dye,

e. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50 to 90 C.

2. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are frosted on both sides, which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an i lyl 4 1$ 9 201; (9. 2, Weight PS C of a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellTllose,

b. drying the coated fabric (a) at a temperature of about 60 to 90 C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes,

c. coating the fabric from (b) on the second (back) side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol 9 ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as ydh lllt si d. drying the coated fabric (c) at a temperature of about 60 to 90 Cfor a period from 3 to 15 minutes,

e. curing the dry fabric from (d) at a temperature from 100 to 170 C for a period of about 1 minute to 20 minutes,

f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a reactive cotton dye,

g. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (f) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50 to 90 C.

3. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are frosted on one side which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, I

bldfyinfifidc firih g the coated fabric (a) on heated steam anja! -l9fi .QfQr @lfiIiQQQ 10 9. 2

minutes, v

c. dyeing the fabric from (b) with a reactive cotton dye,

d. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (c) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to minutes at a temperature from 50 to 90 C.

4. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on one side which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution containing from about 3 to weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of thickener such as hydroxyi ylie l l sew bfdrying the coated fabric (a) at a temperature of I about to C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes,

' c. curing the fabric from (b) at a temperature from to 170 C for a period of about 1 minute to 20 minutes, d. dyeing thefabric from (c) with a reactive cotton dye, e. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric from (d) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent(0. 1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50 to 90 C, f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a different colored reactive dye than used in step (d). 5. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on one side which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, I

b. drying and curing the coated fabric (a) on heated steam cans at to C for a period of 5 to 20 minutes,

c. dyeing the fabric from (b) with a reactive cotton dye,

d. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (c) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50 to 90 C,

e. dyeing the fabric from (d) with a different colored reactive dye than used in step (c).

6. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on both sides which process comprises:

a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethsl ul s 1 bfdrying the fabric from (a) at a temperature of about 60 to 90 C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes,

c. coating the fabric from (b) on the second (back) side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethyl cellulose,

d. drying the coated fabric (c) at a temperature of about 60 to 90 C for a period from 3 to 15 minutes,

e. curing the dry fabric from (d) at a temperature from 100 to C for a period of about 1 to20 minutes,

f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a reactive cotton dye,

g. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (f) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid reactive dye than used in step (f). 

1. A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING COTTON PILE FABRICS WHICH ARE FROSTED ON ONE SIDE WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES: A. COATING THE FABRIC ON ONE SIDE WITH A CROSSLINKING SOLUTION CONSISTING OF FROM ABOUT 3 TO 20 WEIGHT PERCENT OF DIMETHYLOL ETHYLENEUREA OR DIMETHYLOL PROPYLENEUREA, FROM ABOUT 0.5 TO 4.0 WEIGHT PERCENT OF AN ACID TYPE CATALYST AND FROM 0.3 TO 1.2 WEIGHT PERCENT OF A THICKENER SUCH AS HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, B. DRYING THE COATED FABRIC FROM A. AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 60*C TO 90*C FOR A PERIOD OF 3 TO 15 MINUTES, C. CURING THE DRY FABRIC FROM (B) AT A TEMPERATURE FROM 100* C TO 170*C FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT 1 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES D. DYEING THE FABRIC FROM (C) WITH A REACTIVE COTTON DYE, E. HYDROLYZING THE CROSSLINKING AGENT AND THICKENER FROM THE FABRIC USING AN ACIDIC SOLUTION CONTAINING 0.4 WEIGHT PERCENT (0.1N) HYDROCHLORIC ACID FOR A PERIOD OF 30 SECONDS TO 10 MINUTES AT A TEMPERATURE FROM 50* TO 90*C.
 2. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are frosted on both sides, which process comprises: a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, b. drying the coated fabric (a) at a temperature of about 60* to 90* C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes, c. coating the fabric from (b) on the second (back) side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, d. drying the coated fabric (c) at a temperature of about 60* to 90* C for a period from 3 to 15 minutes, e. curing the dry fabric from (d) at a temperature from 100* to 170* C for a period of about 1 minute to 20 minutes, f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a reactive cotton dye, g. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (f) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 miNutes at a temperature from 50* to 90* C.
 3. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are frosted on one side which process comprises: a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, b. drying and curing the coated fabric (a) on heated steam cans at 130* 160* C for a period of 10 to 20 minutes, c. dyeing the fabric from (b) with a reactive cotton dye, d. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (c) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50* to 90* C.
 4. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on one side which process comprises: a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution containing from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, b. drying the coated fabric (a) at a temperature of about 60* to 90* C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes, c. curing the fabric from (b) at a temperature from 100* to 170* C for a period of about 1 minute to 20 minutes, d. dyeing the fabric from (c) with a reactive cotton dye, e. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric from (d) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50* to 90* C, f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a different colored reactive dye than used in step (d).
 5. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on one side which process comprises: a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid type catalyst and from 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, b. drying and curing the coated fabric (a) on heated steam cans at 130* to 160* C for a period of 5 to 20 minutes, c. dyeing the fabric from (b) with a reactive cotton dye, d. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (c) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50* to 90* C, e. dyeing the fabric from (d) with a different colored reactive dye than used in step (c).
 6. A process for producing cotton pile fabrics which are multicolored on both sides which process comprises: a. coating the fabric on one side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percent of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, b. drying the fabric from (a) at a temperature of about 60* to 90* C for a period of 3 to 15 minutes, c. coating the fabric from (b) on the second (back) side with a crosslinking solution consisting of from about 3 to 20 weight percenT of dimethylol ethyleneurea or dimethylol propyleneurea, from about 0.5 to 4.0 weight percent of an acid catalyst and from about 0.3 to 1.2 weight percent of a thickener such as hydroxyethylcellulose, d. drying the coated fabric (c) at a temperature of about 60* to 90* C for a period from 3 to 15 minutes, e. curing the dry fabric from (d) at a temperature from 100* to 170* C for a period of about 1 to 20 minutes, f. dyeing the fabric from (e) with a reactive cotton dye, g. hydrolyzing the crosslinking agent and thickener from the fabric (f) using an acidic solution containing 0.4 weight percent (0.1N) hydrochloric acid for a period of 30 seconds to 10 minutes at a temperature from 50* to 90* C, h. dyeing the fabric from (g) with a different colored reactive dye than used in step (f). 